Fall Welcome Week

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Faculty- and Staff-Hosted Meals

Incoming students, along with their parents and family members, are invited to join the following URochester faculty or staff members for a meal in one of our all-you-can-eat campus dining centers during Welcome Week.

Taking place on New Student Arrival Days, these meals offer the opportunity to chat one-on-one with a faculty or staff member about academics, campus life, internship opportunities, and more.

A maximum of four family members per meal (including the incoming student) are allowed. Students can use a meal plan swipe and/or included guest passes for family members. Meals are $11.50 for lunch and $12.50 for dinner for all attendees not using a meal plan or guest pass.

Spots are limited, and advance registration is required by Friday, August 7. Please make sure to confirm your student move-in date and time slot prior to completing the form.

Please make only one selection so we can ensure the maximum number of families can take advantage of this opportunity. Multiple selections will result in being removed from the list.

Registration

Sign up

Once you've selected a faculty or staff member and a meal period, make sure to complete the registration form by Friday, August 7. Spots are limited and faculty/staff availability is first-come, first-served.

Please make only one selection, so we can ensure the maximum number of families can take advantage of this opportunity. Multiple selections will result in being removed from the list. Don't forget to confirm your student's move-in date and time slot prior to selecting a meal period on the registration form.

Monday dinner hosts

Karen Berger

Associate professor, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences

Ask about: environmental science, sustainability courses and campus activities, and community-engaged learning

Machiel Blok

Associate professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy

Ask about: quantum mechanics, quantum computing, undergraduate research, and academic careers

Guillaume Chastel

Senior lecturer and academic advisor, American Sign Language (ASL) Program

Ask about: ASL program, potential careers and jobs with an ASL degree, and combining ASL with other concentrations or majors

Michael Clark

Professor, Department of Biology

Ask about: biology

Jamie Druckman

Martin Brewer Anderson Professor, Department of Political Science

Ask about: political science, elections, American politics, psychology, and being new to Rochester

Nathan Feldman

Instructor, Department of Political Science

Ask about: political philosophy and PPE (politics, philosophy, and economics)

Paul Funkenbusch

Associate dean of education and new initiatives, Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences; Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Ask about: growing up in a small Midwestern town, studying in Japan, having four children who went to URochester for engineering, and research in experimental design, biological materials (teeth and bones), and manufacturing

Elaine Hill

Dean's Professor in the Public Health Sciences; professor of economics and of obstetrics & gynecology, School of Medicine & Dentistry

Ask about: health and environmental economics, research advising, career path planning, and coursework in economics, data science, statistics, math, environmental science, public health, and epidemiology; also a Rochester native who plays bassoon and has played field hockey, soccer, lacrosse, track, swimming, snowboarding, and bowling

Abdulbasit Kassim

Associate professor, Department of Religion and Classics

Ask about: undergraduate life and navigating the first year, and undergraduate research opportunities in the humanities and social sciences; one of URochester's faculty members from Africa

Rosemary Kegl

Associate professor and interim chair, Department of English

Ask about: opportunities in English for majors, minors, and non-majors, and for general advising guidance on research opportunities and navigating clusters, including for first-generation students

Cona Marshall

Assistant professor of American religions, Department of Religion and Classics

Ask about: religion, sports, comedy, hip-hop, and the best religion classes and clusters to add to your major

Jennie Noll

Professor, Department of Psychology; executive director of the Mt. Hope Family Center

Ask about: trauma-informed care, community-based prevention, the Mt. Hope Family Center student experience, and the integration of clinical work, training, research, and policy

Melissa Pheterson

Content specialist, University Marketing and Communications

Ask about: culture, current events, studying abroad, and practicing Spanish; comes from a humanities background

Agnes Thorarinsdottir

Assistant professor, Department of Chemistry

Ask about: undergraduate research, chemistry course selection for majors and non-majors, and graduate school

Allen Topolski

Professor and chair, Department of Art and Art History

Ask about: the humanities in general, especially those connected to the arts

Heidi Tribunella

Clinical professor of accounting, Simon Business School

Ask about: accounting coursework, accounting careers, and personal finance

David Weagle

Gift officer, University Advancement

Nese Yildiz

Associate professor, Department of Economics

Ask about: economics, Simon Business School classes, statistics and probability, and some math classes; a theoretical econometrician

Tuesday lunch hosts

Scott Abramson

Associate professor, Department of Political Science

Ask about: political science

Maya Ravindranath Abtahian

Associate professor, Department of Linguistics

Ask about: linguistics as a major, minor, or cluster, the humanities (including Meliora Scholars), and undergraduate research opportunities in the social sciences and humanities

Hanan Allen

Assistant director, Student Activities

Ask about: studying abroad, being a returned Peace Corps volunteer, advising student organizations (cultural identity, performing arts, visual arts, academic and professional development, and awareness), and being a first-generation graduate. Enjoys dance, cooking, reading, group fitness, and hiking.

Ajay Anand

Professor and deputy director, Goergen Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (GIDS-AI)

Ask about: data science and AI, AI for health care, medical imaging, the data science curriculum, and finding research opportunities

Paul Audi

Professor and chair, Department of Philosophy

Ask about: whatever students want to discuss, including the structure of the BA, philosophy at any level, or general academic questions; comfortable with free-form conversation, though not the best resource for science/research questions

Zach Barber

Assistant professor, Writing, Speaking, and Argument Program

Ask about: writing in college, writing and AI, meditation and mindfulness, philosophy, ethics, and philosophy of mind

Karen Berger

Associate professor, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences

Ask about: environmental science, sustainability courses and campus activities, and community-engaged learning

Machiel Blok

Associate professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy

Ask about: quantum mechanics, quantum computing, undergraduate research, and academic careers

Chiara Borrelli

Assistant professor, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences

Ask about: climate and paleoceanography research, undergraduate research opportunities, and the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences

Glenn Cerosaletti

Assistant dean and director, Center for Community Engagement

Ask about: being a URochester alumnus ('91, '03 (MA)), academic and co-curricular advising, and place-based, community-engaged learning

Guillaume Chastel

Senior lecturer and academic advisor, American Sign Language (ASL) Program

Ask about: ASL program, potential careers and jobs with an ASL degree, and combining ASL with other concentrations or majors

Michael Clark

Professor, Department of Biology

Ask about: biology

Lynne Donahue

Director of career curriculum initiatives, Greene Center for Career Education and Connections

Ask about: CASC 104 Life Design class, internships for credit and CPT, college advising, and courses that link academics with industry partners and projects; also a parent of college students in civil engineering and anthropology, and enjoys art and outdoor activities

Jim Fry

Associate professor, Department of Biology

Ask about: biology curriculum and major requirements, and finding research opportunities

Gerald Gamm

Professor, Department of Political Science

Ask about: advising student athletes on balancing athletics and academics, political science and history (both teaching fields)

Katherine Grzesik

Associate professor of statistics, Department of Mathematics

Ask about: statistics and data analysis, first-year course selection, acclimating to college-level courses, and preparing to do research

Coraline Iordan

Assistant professor, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences and the Center for Visual Science

Ask about: neuroscience (including how the brain understands and remembers stories), psychology, cognitive science, vision science, computer science/AI, undergraduate research opportunities, and LGBTQ+ life on campus

Stu Jordan

Associate professor, Department of Political Science

Ask about: Department of Political Science, internships in politics in the Rochester area, the Washington semester program, and the University of Rochester Democracy Center

Rosemary Kegl

Associate professor and interim chair, Department of English

Rose Kennedy

James P. Wilmot Distinguished Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry

Ask about: finding undergraduate research opportunities, organic and inorganic chemistry research areas, and preparing for graduate school in the sciences

Joseph Loporcaro

Associate professor of digital media studies and computer science; Department of Computer Science and Undergraduate Program in Digital Media Studies

Ask about: video game studies, mass media, digital and social media, ethics in media, and digital journalism

Nigel Maister

Russell and Ruth Peck Artistic Director, International Theatre Program

Ask about: how to get involved with the performing arts and theatre

Chris Marshall

Associate professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy

Ask about: the Department of Physics and Astronomy, physics curriculum, and research opportunities in physics

Cona Marshall

Assistant professor of American religions, Department of Religion and Classics

Ask about: religion, sports, comedy, hip-hop, and the best religion classes and clusters to add to your major

David McCamant

Associate professor, Department of Chemistry

Ask about: where to get pastries and donuts in Rochester, introductory chemistry and physics courses, and effective studying in large classes

Molly McNulty, JD

Associate professor of public health law and policy, Undergraduate Program in Public Health

Ask about: the intersection of law and public policy, access to healthcare for underserved populations (including uninsured, incarcerated, women, and BIPOC communities), and maternal and child healthcare systems

Brendan Mort

Research associate professor, Department of Chemistry; director, Center for Integrated Research Computing

Ask about: computational chemistry and data science, using machine learning and artificial intelligence to study chemical structure and properties, molecular interactions with electric and magnetic fields, optical activity, and quantum chemistry; also director of the Center for Integrated Research Computing, which supports researchers with computational science and big data tools; affiliated faculty member of the Goergen Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence

Jack Mottley

Associate professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Ask about: 40 years as a electrical and computer engineering (ECE) faculty member, introductory ECE courses, and past experience as associate dean and on the faculty senate

Carole Nasra

Associate professor, Department of Modern Languages and Cultures

Ask about: the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures, especially the French section

Sara Bickweat Penner

Senior lecturer, International Theatre Program

Ask about: theatre courses and productions, and community-engaged research and coursework

Casey Petroff

Assistant professor, Department of Political Science

Ask about: political science as a major, research, and general tips for college success

Melissa Pheterson

Content specialist, University Marketing and Communications

Ask about: culture, current events, studying abroad, and practicing Spanish; comes from a humanities background

Katherine Schaefer

Professor, Writing, Speaking, and Argument Program

Ask about: writing requirements at URochester, AI and writing, finding research opportunities, River Campus vs. Medical Center research environments, planning a pre-med curriculum, and professional communication and internships

Elaine Sia

Senior vice provost for academic excellence; professor, Department of Biology

Ask about: biology, pre-med, the Rochester Curriculum, and study abroad

Missy Pfohl Smith

Director, Program of Dance and Movement

Ask about: dance and the arts broadly, community engagement, public health, and the Posse program (current mentees are second-year students)

Mariko Tamate

Professor, Department of Modern Languages and Cultures

Ask about: the Japanese language, the Japanese major and minor, and learning foreign languages in the age of AI

M. Kristana Textor

Lecturer, Undergraduate Program in Digital Media Studies

Ask about: playful learning, game studies, critical thinking, undergraduate research, digital media studies, academic writing, paths to graduate school, connecting with student resources, exploring Rochester, and the Strong National Museum of Play

Allen Topolski

Professor and chair, Department of Art and Art History

Ask about: the humanities in general, especially those connected to the arts

Jeffrey Tucker

Associate professor and director of undergraduate studies, Department of English

Ask about: 20th-century American and African-American literature, science fiction, the English major, and how students use an English degree after graduation

David Weagle

Gift officer, University Advancement

Elizabeth Weber

Associate professor, Department of Modern Languages and Cultures

Ask about: the East Asian Studies program, the Chinese minor and clusters, Modern Languages and Cultures in general, literary translation, and majoring or double-majoring in the humanities

Nese Yildiz

Associate professor, Department of Economics

Ask about: economics, Simon Business School classes, statistics and probability, and some math classes; a theoretical econometrician

Tuesday dinner hosts

Guillaume Chastel

Senior lecturer and academic advisor, American Sign Language (ASL) Program

Ask about: ASL program, potential careers and jobs with an ASL degree, and combining ASL with other concentrations or majors

Greg DeAngelis

Professor, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences

Ask about: neuroscience, cognitive science, and undergraduate research opportunities

Richard Dees

Professor, Department of Philosophy and Undergraduate Program in Public Health

Ask about: healthcare ethics, public health courses, and philosophy courses

Nathan Feldman

Instructor, Department of Political Science

Ask about: political philosophy and PPE (politics, philosophy, and economics)

Paul Funkenbusch

Associate dean of education and new initiatives, Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences; Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Maureen Gabalski

Program manager, Office of Undergraduate Research

Ask about: getting involved in research, and being the parent of a 2017 physics alum who went on to earn a PhD

Katherine Grzesik

Associate professor of statistics, Department of Mathematics

Ask about: statistics and data analysis, first-year course selection, acclimating to college-level courses, and preparing to do research

Abdulbasit Kassim

Associate professor, Department of Religion and Classics

Ask about: undergraduate life and navigating the first year, and undergraduate research opportunities in the humanities and social sciences; one of URochester's faculty members from Africa

Nigel Maister

Russell and Ruth Peck Artistic Director, International Theatre Program

Ask about: how to get involved with the performing arts and theatre

Cona Marshall

Assistant professor of American religions, Department of Religion and Classics

Ask about: religion, sports, comedy, hip-hop, and the best religion classes and clusters to add to your major

David McCamant

Associate professor, Department of Chemistry

Ask about: where to get pastries and donuts in Rochester, introductory chemistry and physics courses, and effective studying in large classes

Jack Mottley

Associate professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Ask about: 40 years as a electrical and computer engineering (ECE) faculty member, introductory ECE courses, and past experience as associate dean and on the faculty senate

Agnes Thorarinsdottir

Assistant professor, Department of Chemistry

Ask about: undergraduate research, chemistry course selection for majors and non-majors, and graduate school

GuoMing Ting

Associate professor, Department of Modern Languages and Cultures

Ask about: teaching Mandarin Chinese and language learning courses

Al Uy

Dean's Professor and chair, Department of Biology

Ask about: the biology major and department, finding research opportunities, and preparing for future careers

David Weagle

Gift officer, University Advancement